Spreader handles everything thrown at it
Hamilton agricultural contractor Greg Langman says his Abbey AP900 multi spreader has handled “everything we have thrown it” in three years of operation, says the supplier, Farmgard.
Farmgard has recently expanded its already extensive range with the addition of Rolland muck-spreaders.
Based in northwest France, Rolland operates from a 50,000m2 factory and is celebrating 2016 as its 70th anniversary. Its first product was a wooden manure spreader.
At the recent Grasslandz demonstration the UK export manager Alex Clothier introduced the Rollforce range.
The Rollforce range of heavy-duty machines is aimed at contractors and large scale farmers. Each is identified by numbers on the side of the body, the first two digits referring to body length and the latter to the capacity in cubic metres.
Attention to detail is notable: the metalwork undergoes a process of shotblasting, followed by phosphating and electroplating, before a high quality two-pack top coat is applied. During the process the material is oven-baked twice ensuring a long service life.
At the front of the machine a wide, A-framed drawbar layout aids strength and stability when combined with the standard vertical spring, or optional hydraulic damping, said to promote a smoother ride. Oversize wheels and tyres also help with stability and more importantly reduce the rolling resistance, making the spreaders easier to pull off-road.
Also up front, the self-contained hydraulics require only a pto drive and electrical connection to the tractor, preventing cross-contamination of hydraulic fluids, and is further enhanced by the DPA system that automatically adjusts the bed speed irrespective of the tractor's forward speed, to maintain constant application rates.
The front panel of the spreader body allows the operator a view of the load and its progress, and 16mm marine-grade floor chains work with channel-profiled slats to take the load rearwards.
The DairyNZ Farmers Forum is back with three events - in Waikato, Canterbury and Southland.
To celebrate 25 years of the Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship, Ravensdown caught up with past recipients to see where their careers have taken them, and what the future holds for the industry.
Among this year’s Primary Industry NZ (PINZ) Awards finalists are a Southlander who created edible bale netting and rural New Zealanders who advocate for pragmatic regulation and support stressed out farmers.
Rockit Global has appointed Ivan Angland as its new chief operating officer as it continues its growth strategy into 2025.
Nominations are now open for the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board.
A Mid-Canterbury dairy farmer is bringing a millennial mindset to his family farm and is reaping the rewards, with a 50% uplift in milksolids production since he took over.